Current:Home > MyKevin McCallister’s grocery haul in 1990 'Home Alone' was $20. See what it would cost now. -ProsperityStream Academy
Kevin McCallister’s grocery haul in 1990 'Home Alone' was $20. See what it would cost now.
View
Date:2025-04-17 07:34:41
"Home Alone" fans are reminiscing about lower grocery bills after a TikTok video pointed out how much Kevin McCallister spent on his solo shopping trip in 1990 versus what it would cost today.
The film follows the antics of the young boy, played by Macaulay Culkin, as he is accidentally left behind by his parents who jet off to Paris for Christmas.
As the fictional 8-year old is left to fend for himself, he makes a trip to the local grocery store to pick up some food, toiletries and household necessities.
His bill comes out to about $20. One TikToker estimated that Culkin would spend close to $70 on the same grocery haul if the goods were purchased this year from Target, an increase of 250%.
We did our own calculations. Here is what we found.
Protect your assets: Best high-yield savings accounts of 2023
Groceries from 1990 versus 2023
In the film, Kevin buys his groceries at the family-owned supermarket called Rockford Schnucks, located in Illinois.
He picks up a half-gallon of milk, half-gallon of orange juice, TV dinner, a loaf of Wonderbread, frozen mac and cheese, liquid detergent, saran wrap, a bag of toy soldiers, Snuggle dryer sheets and toilet paper. McCallister uses a dollar off coupon for a grand total of $19.83.
According to the Schnucks grocery store's website, here's how much Kevin's groceries cost today:
- Half a gallon of milk: $1.71
- Half a gallon of OJ: $3.99
- Butternut large white bread: $2.79 (Wonderbread not available)
- TV dinner: $4.49 (Stouffer's classic meatloaf frozen meal)
- Frozen mac and cheese: $1.49
- Tide liquid detergent: $12.99
- Saran wrap: $3.39
- Snuggle dryer sheets: $2.94
- Toilet paper: $7.99
- Toy soldiers (not available so Amazon price listed): $9.99
Kevin would have spent a grand total of $54.94 (with Illinois sales tax) in 2023 or $53.94 with his dollar off coupon.
Here's what government data shows on how grocery prices have changed:
Milk
- Average price in November 1990: $1.34 per half gallon of fresh, low fat milk, according to Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
- Average price in November 2023: $4.85, per half gallon organic reduced fat 2% milk, according to USDA.
Bread
- Average price of white bread (per pound): .70 cents in 1990, according to the St. Louis FED.
- Average price of white bread (per pound): 1.70 cents in 2022.
What to know about 'Home Alone':From filming locations to Macaulay Culkin's age
How has inflation changed since 1990?
Inflation is a generalized rise in prices. It can occur across the board in an economy, or it could affect individual products or services, such as gas, rent and groceries.
$1 in 1990 has the same purchasing power as $2.30 today. Over the past 33 years, this is a change of $1.30. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' inflation calculator, $19.83 in December 1990 has the same buying power as $45.62 in October of 2023 − the most recent CPI data available for this year.
From 2021 to 2022, U.S. retail food prices rose by 11% − the largest annual increase in over 40 years, according to the Government Accountability Office. While average inflation was increasing in 1990 at 5.4%, it was not nearly as high as 8% last year.
veryGood! (595)
Related
- Tropical rains flood homes in an inland Georgia neighborhood for the second time since 2016
- Orioles prospect Jackson Holliday is USA TODAY Sports' 2023 Minor League Player of the Year
- House Democrats send letter to Biden criticizing Netanyahu's military strategy
- Community Health Network to pay government $345M to settle Medicare fraud charges
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- Civil rights groups file federal lawsuit against new Texas immigration law SB 4
- The poinsettia by any other name? Try ‘cuetlaxochitl’ or ‘Nochebuena’
- A pro-peace Russian presidential hopeful submits documents to register as a candidate
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- Paige DeSorbo & Hannah Berner New Year Eve's Fashion Guide to Bring That Main Character Energy in 2024
Ranking
- The GOP and Kansas’ Democratic governor ousted targeted lawmakers in the state’s primary
- Home sales snapped a five-month skid in November as easing mortgage rates encouraged homebuyers
- Disney+'s 'Percy Jackson' series is more half baked than half-blood: Review
- Top French TV personality faces preliminary charge of rape: What to know
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Ireland to launch a legal challenge against the UK government over Troubles amnesty bill
- Derek Hough reveals wife Hayley Erbert will have skull surgery following craniectomy
- Consider this before you hang outdoor Christmas lights: It could make your house a target
Recommendation
Jury finds man guilty of sending 17-year-old son to rob and kill rapper PnB Rock
Body wrapped in tire chains in Kentucky lake identified as man who disappeared in 1999
Billy Crystal makes first trip back to Katz's Deli from 'When Harry Met Sally' scene
Southwest will pay a $140 million fine for its meltdown during the 2022 holidays
Big Lots store closures could exceed 300 nationwide, discount chain reveals in filing
Kylie Minogue on success and surviving cancer: I sing to process everything
A Chevrolet dealer offered an AI chatbot on its website. It told customers to buy a Ford
Newest toys coming to McDonald's Happy Meals: Squishmallows